BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University senior forward
Gabriela Pelogi gave the No. 15 nationally-ranked women's soccer team an early lead with a goal in the 15
th minute and freshman forward
Dayana Diaz added a penalty-kick goal to lead the Vikings to a 2-1 victory over No. 7 Colorado School of Mines Wednesday afternoon at Harrington Field.
WWU moved through its tough early-season schedule with a 5-2-0 record, which included home wins over then No. 7 MSU Denver and No. 7 Mines today. Previously unbeaten entering the match, Colorado School of Mines drops to 5-1-1 on the season.
"We are really excited about the result today against a really quality opponent in Mines," said head coach
Travis Connell. "They defended very well and had not allowed a goal coming into this game. I was impressed with their defense, but even more impressed with how we kept trying to figure out how to unlock their defense and were relentless in creating chances. It was a really good result today."
The Vikings struck first in the 15
th minute when
Pelogi (Federal Way, WA) one-timed a long pass from junior forward
Liv Larson (Arlington, WA) to the far post past from 8-yards out past the Mines goalkeeper for her third goal of the season. It was the first goal allowed by CSM this season, ending a string of 574 consecutive scoreless minutes to open the season.
Mines had a couple of chances in the 32
nd minute when the ball became loose in the box, and after a scramble, Nicole LaTourette's shot was chipped over the crossbar from close range. LaTourette had another scoring chance at the 36:18 mark, but WWU redshirt sophomore goalkeeper
Natalie Dierickx (Kirkland, WA/Inglemoor/Colorado State) came off her line and smothered the one-on-one shot.
WWU looked to extend its lead in the 73
rd minute when Larson was one-on-one with the CSM keeper, but had her shot from the top of the box deflected keeping it a 1-0 game.
The Vikings scored what turned out to be a very important second goal in the 75
th minute when
Diaz (Granite Falls, WA) drew a foul in the box and converted the penalty kick to put the Vikings up 2-0. Her PK was fired to the upper left where it snuck under the crossbar for her first career goal at the 74:56 mark.
The Orediggers closed to within one goal in the 83
rd minute when Emma Peterson fired a shot from 20-yards out from the far left wing, that snuck over Dierickx at the 82:36 mark.
WWU was out-shot 13-11 by Colorado School of Mines, including a 7-4 mark in shots on goal. Dierickx made 6 saves.
The Vikings (5-2-0, 0-1-0 GNAC) return to action on Saturday hosting Simon Fraser in the first home GNAC game of the season at 4 pm at Harrington Field. The Viking men follow in a Harrington Field doubleheader entertaining Montana State Billings in a GNAC contest starting at 7 pm.
"We got through a tough non-conference schedule, but I think this team has a bit of a chip on its shoulder as they have a lot of pride," added
Connell. "I feel like our players are in a spot that they want to prove themselves and I would look for our team to really come out motivated the rest of the season."
Game Notes: Gabriela Pelogi scored her team-leading third goal of the season (all in the last four games) and now has 39 career goals…remains 6
th in WWU history in career goals and moved into 5
th place with 96 career points…moved into a tie for 8
th place in GNAC history in
career goals scored…Mines did not allow a goal in its first 6 games of the season, and was the only remaining NCAA Division II team to not allow a goal this season…WWU's non-conference schedule included four games against nationally-ranked teams: UC San Diego (1-0 loss, then No. 5, now No. 2), MSU Denver (2-1 win, then No. 7, now No. 11), Concordia (1-0 loss, then No. 15, now No. 10) and Colorado Mines (2-1 win, No. 7).
Colorado School of Mines (5-1-1) vs. Western Washington (5-2-0)
Date: Sep 19, 2018 Attendance: 89
Weather: 61 degrees and sunny.
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Colo. Sch. of Mines. 0 1 - 1
Western Washington.. 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 14:24 WWU Pelogi,Gabriela (3) (Larson,Liv) - 18 pass into 9, turn, beat keeper far post.
2. 74:56 WWU Diaz,Dayana (1) Penalty kick
3. 82:36 CSM Emma Peterson (1) (unassisted) - Shot from 22 yds, left side, beat keeper high.
Shots: CSM 13, Western Washington 11
Saves: CSM 2 (Mooney-2), Western Washington 6 (Dierickx-6)
Follow the Viks…fans can follow WWU women's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/WSoc, and via social media on Twitter (@WWU_WSoccer), Instagram (@wwu_wsoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccerwomens).
